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1. Flandrian Sedimentation and Palaeoenvironments in Pett Level, the Brede and Lower Rother Valleys and Walland Marsh

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1. Flandrian Sedimentation and Palaeoenvironments in Pett Level, the Brede and Lower Rother Valleys and Walland Marsh 1. Flandrian Sedimentation and Palaeoenvironments in Pett Level, the Brede and Lower Rother Valleys and Walland Marsh Martyn Waller, Paul J. Burrin and Andrew Marlow Introduction work has now been extended into the lower Brede. In the Romney Marsh is one of the largest areas of reclaimed Rother valley, subsurface investigations have extended marshland in Britain. Despite its size, little is known from the fluviatile sequences (see Burrin 1988) to the about the sedimentary sequences of which it is deposits of the lower Rother, the Rother Levels and out comprised. Early investigations of the marshlands have across Walland Marsh to the Rhee Wall. All these now largely been superseded, a notable exception being investigations have been concerned with the identific- the work on the formation of the shingle barrier at ation and correlation of the sedimentary sequences Dungeness (Gulliver 1897; Lewis 1932; Lewis and found, and the reconstruction of depositional environ- Balchin 1940). Recent attempts to reconstruct the ments. Here a preliminary attempt is made to integrate formation of the marshland (Cunliffe 1980; Brooks 1981; these results in order to produce a clearer understanding Eddison 1983a, 1983b) have tended to focus on changes of the development of the western tracts of the occurring during the historic period. Much of the marshland. However, prior to describing the results of detailed information upon which these discussions are this more recent research, it is useful to outline the ideas based originates from the work of Green ( 1968) and his of Green (further refined by Cunliffe 1980, Brooks 1981 colleagues at the Soil Survey of England and Wales and Eddison 1983a, 1983b), so that the difficulties and (Green and Askew 1958a, 1958b, 1959, 1960). Green discrepancies encountered in relation to this new (1968) was responsible for recognising the basic material can be more fully appreciated. stratigraphic sequence which is thought to characterise the marshland. Examination of the general character of the deeper deposits and a detailed study of the near The Depositional History of Romney Marsh surface sediments, together with consideration of The landward boundary of the marshland is marked by historical documentation and cartographic evidence, a prominent and now abandoned cliff-line, which is best enabled Green to advance a model of the evolution of the developed on the erosionally resistant sands of the marshlands. In spite of these studies there are still many Wealden Series (Fig. 1.2). The age, origin and uncertainties. Particularly lacking are data concerning development of the cliffs remain largely unresolved. the development of the river valleys during the evolution Kellaway et al. (1975) and Destombes et al. (1975) imply of the marshland. The lithostratigraphy, depositional that this feature may date from the preceding environment and chronology of the valley fill deposits (Ipswichian) interglacial and that it has been modified, and their inter-relationships with the marshland rather than created, by the subsequent Flandrian sequences are unknown. The primary aim of this transgression. A recent investigation of landslides at research has been to fill this significant gap in the Lympne (Hutchinson et al. 1985) has indicated that the understanding of the evolution of the Romney Marsh cliff-line here was probably abandoned by c. 5000 B.P., area. with later instability producing the current slope The investigations described in this paper are the morphology. result of a series of studies into the deposits of this area Little is also known regarding the characteristics of (Fig. 1 .l). The Flandrian vegetational history of the the deepest deposits of the marsh, for few boreholes have Brede valley is being investigated by Martyn Waller and penetrated the alluvium to bedrock. Of the five a detailed understanding of the lithostratigraphy, pollen boreholes quoted in Shephard-Thorn et al. (1966) and assemblages and plant macrofossils is emerging, Smart et al. (1966) only two appear to provide reliable supported by radiocarbon dating. Initial investigations information. These record bedrock at c. -20m in the adjacent but smaller Pannel valley were first (Langdon) and c. -28m (Guldeford Lane Corner) reported by Woodcock (1984). This work has now been respectively. Two deep boreholes in the valley alluvium complemented by analyses from a further site. The of the lower Tillingham and lower Rother also record lithostratigraphy and foraminiferal assemblages of Pett bedrock at - 24.5m O.D. (Tilling Green, Rye) and Level have been described by Marlow (1984) and this c. - 28m O.D. (Wittersham Bridge). The deepest 4 Martyn Waller, Paul J. Burrin and Andrew Marlow ........ ....... ............................ ........ ....... THE DOWELS TONE BRIDGE ............ A RYE BAY ....................... ........................ IRLIGHT HEAD Fig. I .l Location of sites deposits recorded in these boreholes are variable, Midley (TR 031232) (Green and Askew 1958b). This ranging from peats at Langdon and Tilling Green, of sand is relatively coarse when compared with the which the latter have been dated to 9565 * 120 B.P. marshland's younger sandy deposits. Where it occurs (Welin et al. 1974), to clays and sands with gravel close to or at the surface prominent sand ridges are elsewhere. Consequently, comments relating to the evident trending south-west to north-east. Green (1968) general morphology of the bedrock surface, or to the suggests they are part of an extensive feature, such as a composition and origins of these basal materials, rely on sand spit, or a system of sand banks or dunes, which a very restricted database and must be viewed with some suffered dissection and reworking during subsequent caution. periods. The most reliable information concerning the The Midley Sand is overlain by the Blue Clay, which marshland sediments to-date is that provided by the Soil has a high silt content and contains shells of the estuarine Survey of England and Wales (Green 1968). The bivalve Scrobicularia. Above this deposit is an extensive deepest deposit identified is the Midley Sand, so named peat bed, which is thickest in the Dowels east of because it outcrops at the surface in the vicinity of Appledore but thins to the east and wedges out Flandrian Sedimentation and Palaeoenvironments 5 .................... FRESHWATER WEALD CLAY TUNBRIDGE WELLS SAND WADHURST CLAY Fig. 1.2 Geology of stu4 area completely over the Midley Sand deposits near Lydd was sub-divided by Green into Decalcified (Old) (Green 1968). The peat is said to contain the trunks of Marshland, where the post-peat deposits are often thin, oak and hazel, as well as alder remains (Drew 1864). and Calcareous (New) Marshland, which contain thick The original extent and thickness of the peat is likely to post-peat deposits. These more recent events in the have been altered by a number of factors including marshland's depositionary history are believed to be erosion, compaction and wastage through oxidation. closely related to the development of barrier beach Two radiocarbon dates are available from the main systems. The earliest date for the origins of such marshland peat bed: 3020f 94 B.P. at Appledore structures is uncertain. An early Flandrian age for Dowrels and 3340f 92 B.P. from h'alland Marsh barrier beaches further west along the south coast at (Callow et al. 1964). Langney Point, Eastbourne has been suggested by Subsequent deposits, referred to as the 'Young Jennings and Smyth (1982a). In Romney Marsh, Alluvium' by Green (1968), have been the subject of Eddison (1983a, 1983c) has argued that barriers may much attention and speculation in attempts to have provided a sheltered environment behind which understand the historic evolution of this area. The marsh peat accumulation could have occurred. As peat was 6 Martyn Waller, Paul 3. Burrin and Andrew Marlow forming by c. 5300 B.P. at Pett Level (Welin et al. 1972), purposes of which have been much debated. It is clearly Eddison suggested that shingle had accumulated artificial and is not a depositional boundary (except significantly by this period. Others however, including between Appledore and Snargate) which indicates that Green, have envisaged peat formation occurring during the 'wall' did not function as a seabank (Green 1968). a period of relatively low sea level. 'The earliest All recent authors agree that the Rhee Wall was a canal unequivocal evidence for barrier formation (but see built prior to 1257, when it was extended seaward to Tooley 1988) consists of a series ofshingle beaches west of scour the New Romney estuary which was becoming Lydd. These follow the SW-NE alignment of the Midley increasingly obstructed by sediment. This problem was Sand and are overlain by 'clay with roots' dated to exacerbated by the storms of this period which were 2740 f 400 B.P. and a thin peat dated to 2050 f 90 B.P. threatening the existence of New Romney as a port (Callow et al. 1966), which Green ( 1968) correlated with (Green 1968; Cunliffe 1980; Eddison 1983a, 1983b). the Blue Clay and peat respectively of the marshland. The Rhee Wall itself appears to have been threatened at The alignment of the surface outcrops of Midley Sand Appledore during this period by a marine inundation of and early shingle deposits has led to the suggestion that a Walland Marsh. Brooks (1981) has reopened earlier spit may once have extended from Fairlight to Hythe, arguments by challenging Green's (1968) view that the forming as a result of the predominantly eastward whole of this second area of calcified marshland was longshore drift (Lewis 1932; Lewis and Balchin 1940; reclaimed after the storms of the thirteenth century, as Cunliffe 1980; Eddison 1983a), this structure being the documentary evidence suggests that Denge Marsh precursor of the present-day cuspate foreland of formed part of the archepiscopal estate of Lydd as early Dungeness. as the tenth century. The deposits of the post-peat period (the Young The third tract of calcareous marshland occurs in the Alluvium) are complex and appear to relate to the vicinity ofRye and Walland Marsh.
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